Christmas Rewind-2010, Part II

We had a total of six family Christmas parties.  It is always an insane time at Christmas with the party schedules and family gatherings, and it can be stressful, but I love it at the same time.  Because after all, it is Christmas, and Christmas just isn't Christmas without family. 

We started our festivities the Wednesday night before Christmas at Lance's Dad and Mom's.  This was Kaden's first time to open gifts for the year.  He wasn't digging it.  He tryed to open one, got bored and colored on a pad of paper instead.  He just wasn't interested at all.  He'd rather color.

He did enjoy playing with Mommy's new Christmas ornaments though.  He loved Santa ornaments or figures this year, just not the real deal Santa figure.  He would say, "San Claus and deer."  Then, "Horns."  Because the deer has horns.  So cute!  He had San Claus riding the deer.

Kaden got LOTS of great winter clothes from Lance's family.  They are so nice, and we needed them.

Our next Christmas party was the next evening, Thursday night, at my Mom & Step Dad's house.

Kaden got excited about all these gifts at Nana's house.  And, he was a completely different kid than the night before.  He opened all his gifts at Nana's and loved every second of it!  He wanted MORE!  Don't worry, these gifts are not all for Kaden!

Christmas just wouldn't be Christmas without this lady, my Aunt Kara, she and her fmaily have celebrated our family Christmas with us for as long as I can remember.  This is Kara and Mom.

Kaden got to open an early gift before dinner because he's the baby and he needed a toy!

This is my oldest brother, Jamie, my sister-in-law Pam, and their two children, Emily and Jacob.

Emily was born the year I graduated high school, so imagine how old I feel with her this grown up!

This is my older brother Lenny, my sister-in-law Andrea, and their two sons, Dustin and Dakota.

This is Lance, myself, and Kaden.

Note:  I no longer wear glasses!!!  YAY!!!

This is Nana (my Mom) and Papa Mark.

Three generations.  My Granny, My Mom, and myself.  Do you see any resemblances?

I just love this next picture.  This is the first picture we have of my Granny with all of my Mom's grandkids.  So this is my Granny with her great grandkids. 

Kaden and his Great Maternal Grandmother, Granny.  Can you imagine where we get the red hair from?

Kaden tearing into some gifts!

This is Kaden's first George Strait western shirt, or western shirt at all for that matter and cinch jeans.  I thought he looked so handsome in that blue!

Kaden with his Uncle Jamie eating cheetos.  He thinks his uncles are pretty great.  It is so cute to hear him say "Uncle Lenny, Uncle Jamie, and Aunt Pam!"  He says these three names at least ten times daily.  He loves them for sure.

Emily and Kaleigh being silly!

Nana Claus...

Well, I've only gotten through two Christmas party of the six and I'm exhausted so part three will be coming later.

We had a great Christmas!  More to come...

The New Year

Well, we are beginning the new year a little differently than we would like, but very thankful none the less.  Kaden is sick with RSV, Respiratory Syncytial Virus.  You can read more about RSV here.  He started getting sick right after Christmas, I was hoping for it just to be a cold and pass, so, we didn't go to the doctor because he only had cold symptoms.  Then, Daddy got sick with some sort of crud several days ago.  It put him under the weather and in bed for about three days.  The doctor put him on the Z Pack.  About the second day into his Z pack he was better, however that is when Kaden's sickness began.  He started coughing really bad and it sounded horrible.  He would cry when he would cough and he stayed up the ENTIRE night on the December 30th, crying and in pain.  Early morning of the 31st Mom and I left at 3:15 a.m. for my pre scheduled surgery with Dr. Boothe to get my laser vision correction.  Lance left out early for the doctor with Kaden.  I was so worried about him, and so afraid something was bad wrong with him, I almost didn't go to my surgery.  I was done with surgery and Mom and I were home by 9:30 a.m.  Kaden and Lance ended up at an urgent care clinic because our pediatrician wasn't open on New Year's Eve.  They found he has RSV and put him on steroids.  This is the third time he has had steroids now, twice previously for croup.  I can't help but believe this is what has caused him to grow so big and fast.  So, look out we'll probably like like a 5 year old soon!  (I hope not.)  They did a chest X-Ray to rule out any pneumonia.  He had a huge gas bubble that showed up on the X-Ray.  Really weird.  He had been up crying in pain all night because of that gas bubble.  So, we started gas drops for relief, and they did the trick.  Kaden has never had a gas problem since birth, in fact, I have only ever used them like 3 or 4 times as a last resort when I couldn't figure out anything else that might be wrong with him.  But, something got him gassy, (maybe from coughing so much) and I didn't even have any gas drops anymore.  Note to self, always keep gas drops on hand.    My vision is better than it has ever been in my entire life.  I can remember when I was a kid and got my first pair of glasses, how excited I was that I could see the leaves on trees on the drive home that day from Dallas.  Well, today I feel much the same.  I didn't know our county road we live on was so bad, with pot holes everywhere, today is the first day I saw all the holes.  Ha!  It's very weird to wake up and see the alarm clock and not put glasses on.  I am so pleased with the results so far.  I highly recommend Dr. Boothe to anyone interested in laser eye correction surgery.

Kaden is really still a sick little fellow today.  He is coughing his little head off, and just feels rotten.  He has been laying around a lot today, which tells us for sure, he feels bad.  I'm so ready for him to start feeling better.  Poor little baby.  Nana (my Mom) has been here a couple of days getting no sleep right along beside us, helping with Kaden and fixing us good Momma meals.  I am recovering from my eye surgery well.  It was hard not being able to rest afterwards because Kaden was so sick, but that's the way it goes.  Lance is getting well, hopefully Kaden will soon, and even more hopefully they won't share with me.  I have to return to work/school Monday morning.  I have to admit I am dreading it right now.  Just not ready to get back into the hustle and bustle of the everyday routine again.  And wishing I had some more time to rest, a few more days would be nice. 

In our two weeks off school we have had both the stomach virus and now the crud.  So, maybe we should just work year round.  Ha!  (Just Kidding, I'd rather be off and sick.)  Ha again!  

Did anyone else's house look like this picture below after Christmas hit it?  It took me an entire day to find homes for the new toys.  And, this picture isn't ever half the toys we received.  This little boy is very blessed to have family members that love him so much. 

I am not making a New Year's resolution this year.  Last year I decided to read my Bible everyday for the entire year, and I was very successful with that resolution and only missed reading a few days throughout the year.  I read through the entire Old Testament this last year and it truly blessed me and changed my life.  I am so happy I read my Bible daily.  I am going to continue reading daily, since it is now a habit and I am now to the New Testament.  I had also made a resolution last year to loose 10 pounds.  I'll NEVER make that a resolution again.  I did not succeed on that one.  I lost a several pounds, yes, and got 3 pounds away from that goal before falling off the work out/diet plan and gaining back over 5 pounds, ending the year at only 4 pounds of total weight loss from last New Year's Day weight.  So, no more goals on that.  Just going to try to eat better and workout this year regularly.  Why do we put so much pressure on ourselves about appearance and weight?  God loves us just the way we are for our insides not our outsides.  My only hope for this year is to slow down and enjoy and cherish every moment of being a Mommy.  Kaden is growing up so fast, and I know it won't be long until he is all grown up and not a baby anymore.  I want to cherish this time with him.  After all, he is the most precious thing in my life.

Kaden, Lance & I wish you all a very happy and healthy New Year.  Happy 2011!

Merry Christmas!

This morning, bright and early, a big Jolly fellow left some toys for a sweet red headed little fellow. Kaden was SO excited to find these treasures!

Kaden got a 'big truck!'

He is SO E-X-C-I-T-E-D!!!

In his new pop-up tent!

Opening Santa gifts...

Mommy got a pretty necklace and earrings from Daddy and Kaden.

Sadie dog got to go for a ride this morning, and that was more fun than anything. 

We had waffles and bacon from our new wafflemaker GrandDaddy and JJ got us for Chrsitmas.

We are so blessed this morning.  

Merry Christmas Everyone!

 

There's no place like home for the holidays...

I have been home for four days now on Christmas holiday, and I could so easily get spoiled to this stay at home lifestyle.  I got my tree up the weekend after Thanksgiving, while still working, and this was all the decorating I had done until a couple days ago. 

Kaden told me we needed to kick it up a notch, so that we did.

We added this pretty red and green mesh net we got in Canton.  We also have been adding all our pretty Christmas cards we get in the mail.  I started doing this last year, and I really like the look.  It makes our tree so much more personal.  I love it!  Plus, it gives you a place to put all those cards!

My Mother-in-Law hand stitch all three of these precious stockings for us!  I love them!

My Mom made this bow for me out of burlap ribbon from Laurie Anna's Vintage Home.  I've been wanted to do something to this FOREVER.  I love the way it looks.  Excuse our umbrella and be-be gun by the front door.  Ha!  (Only in the country)

These two boys went hunting, and while they were gone I did some decorating...

When you ask Kaden what they are hunting for, he'll say, "deer, pig, skunk, POW! POW!" 

I found this tall Q-tip jar at Laurie Anna's for $8.95, and then on Saturday I found this cotton ball jar at Good Samaritans for .25 cents!!!  That's a bargain!  We'll see how long they last at my house, but for now I'll enjoy how pretty they look.

I got this soap jar a few years ago at Paul Micheal for $6.  I love it!!!

I found this yesterday at Ross for 4.99!  I love it, it is such an important reminder for all of us.  Take it all to God in prayer.  I need to take this to school with me as a reminder for my desk.  :)

This sweet baby went and got in my bed this afternoon all by himself and fell asleep.  When I went to check on him, because he was being so quiet, this is what I found.  So sweet!  (In more than one way for Mommy's)  I got to wrap his Christmas presents while he snoozed away! 
Now, on a different note, this is him a few days ago sacked out on the couch in time out.  He had to do time out so many times consecutively that he fell asleep crying and sad.  When he woke, he looked at me and in the most pitiful voice ever said, "Mommy, I sorry!"  My heart was melted.  Except, he says it, sowy, not sorry.

Look how red headed he is!!!

I also found this super cute tri-cycle plant holder yesterday at Ross for $8.  It fit perfectly into my dining room window.

These little hooks for Lance & I in our bathroom are working out great for our pajamas.  As you can see, Lance bought Elmo pants for Kaden.  Ha!  These hooks came from Laura Anna's as well.  Megan got some of these a long time ago, and I liked them, and finally got me some.

I bought this great mirror at ReNewed Resale shop for $16.  I had hoped to put it in the guest bath, but our light fixtures are mounted to low for it.  So, it will have to hang in this hallway, if I ever get it hung, it's been sitting like this for a few weeks.  Kaden likes it!  Today he had a blue ring pop and was inspecting his blue mouth afterwards.  Ha!

Seriously, what would I do without him? 

Lance has had this iPod shuffle, brand new as a gift from the All American Rejects, when he was part of their road crew in 2007.  It was $79.95 when they purchased it for him, now they are $45 and we still have it brand new sitting in the box, never opened.  I am trying to figure out how to download music to it, obviously, I'm not a smart one, because so far I've had no luck.  Can somebody help me please?  I'd love to have this when school starts back so I can use it when I'm trying to go to sleep and Lance and Kaden are too loud!  Ha! 

I am so thankful for my family this Christmas.  God has blessed me.  I am so thankful for this time off work to re focus on my family and not think about work for a couple weeks.  This alone is a Christmas gift to me.  Merry Christmas Ya'll! 



Christmas with the King.

I see the countless trees around the world below

With tiny lights like Heaven's stars reflecting on the snow

The sight is so spectacular, please wipe away that tear,

For I'm spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I hear the many Christmas songs that people hold so dear

But they can't compare with the Christmas choir up here

I have no words to tell you, the joy their voices bring

For it's beyond description to hear the angels sing

I know how much you miss me, I see the pain inside your heart

But I'm not so far away, we really aren't apart.

Please love and keep each other, as my Father said to do

For I can't count the blessings of love He has for you

I can't tell you of the splendor, nor the peace in this place

Can you imagine Christmas with our Savior face to face?

I'll ask Him to light your spirit as I tell him of your love

Then pray for one another as you lift your eyes above.

So, please let your hearts be joyful, and let your spirit sing

For I'm spending Christmas in Heaven, and I'm walking with the King.

In loving memory of all my friends and family who are spending this Christmas with the King.

Ho Ho Ho!

As Kaden says, "Ho, Ho, ho!"  When asked what does Santa Claus say, that's the response you will receive.  He is to cute for words with all his many sayings this Christmas season.

He has decorated and undecorated and redecorated the Christmas tree so many times I've lost count.  It is cute though.  His Daddy bought him some plastic Disney ornaments that he can do what ever with, he loves that.  He holds them up to me and says, "Donald!" or "Mickey!" 

These pictures where taken at a beautiful fall wedding we attended in November.  We went down to College Station, TX for Lance's first cousins wedding.  It was a great get away weekend for me.  We stayed at the Hilton and ate yummy food and I was happy just being in Aggieland again.  Kaden enjoyed the hotel as well. 

We were able to meet up with one of my life long friends, Rochelle, and her family.  I love these pictures.  Rochelle's kids are all cooperating and Kaden is NOT!  I am holding two ice cream cones!!!  It was insane, but fun!  So good to see you Rochelle, even though we didn't visit!  Rochelle has four sweet kids, three girls and one boy.  Nicolas, Sophia, Eva, and Olivia.  I love them! 

Don't ya'll love the way I'm holding Kaden's hood in these pictures to hold him into the picture?  Ha!  He's a boy on the go!

This is a toy horse barn we received recently from my niece, Emily, who has out grown all her toys.  She let Kaden have this barn and  all her toy horses.  And, as you can see, he loves it!  He even found a way to put himself in a stall.  It was even more interesting with him trying to get out.  He's a silly boy!

Ta-Dah!!!  He made it out!

Such a sweet boy.